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White-rumped Sandpiper? Lake Erie, ON (1 Viewer)

P

Paul Tavares

Well-known member
I saw two possibly three of these hanging out with some Least Sandpipers, a Dunlin and a Semipalmated Plover at Rock Point Provincial Park on the north shore of Lake Erie. I think it may be a White-rumped Sandpiper but am not sure. The photos are of the same bird. When they flew they did display a white rump but I couldn't get a photo of that.

Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Paul
 

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It's a Western Sandpiper. Note e.g. long curved bill and not very long wings.
 
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KenM said:
I can see the similarities and the differences...must have been influenced by the "seen" white rump.
Click to expand...

OK, maybe I should not be too confident here. Although the points made above seem relevant I agree the bird looks quite fine for WRSP plumage-wise. The lack of obvious rufous on cheek and crown is a bit odd for WSP (although much variation). Shoulder concealed. Bill looks all black again indicating Western, but doesn't eliminate WRSP altogether, I reckon.
 
Additionally, the OP said the bird had a white rump in flight, but a Western can give the 'impression' of a white rump when viewed from an angle, as the attached shows.
 

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AllanM said:
Additionally, the OP said the bird had a white rump in flight, but a Western can give the 'impression' of a white rump when viewed from an angle, as the attached shows.
Click to expand...

The white I saw went completely across the rump consistent with a White-rumped. I've re-attached 100% crops, exaggerated the sharpening and increased the HDR in the shadows. Another birder just reported seeing a possible Dunlin * White-rumped Sandpiper hybrid in the same location about three hours after I took this photo. Not sure if it is the same bird but could a hybrid explain some of the plumage differences?

Thanks again

Paul
 

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Last edited:
Paul Tavares said:
The white I saw went completely across the rump consistent with a White-rumped. I've re-attached 100% crops, exaggerated the sharpening and increased the HDR in the shadows. Another birder just reported seeing a possible Dunlin * White-rumped Sandpiper hybrid in the same location about three hours after I took this photo. Not sure if it is the same bird but could a hybrid explain some of the plumage differences?

Thanks again

Paul
Click to expand...

To my mind not too much wrong with the plumage for a WRS. It's more the structure of the bird that is problematic. Western and Dunlin are in many ways similar. There is no pic with Least for size comparison?
 
The scap shapes look wrong for Western - the lower and rear ones especially on Western sand are very elongated - like willow leaves. The mystery lacks them
 

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